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AirWaves Connected Mask

With this presentation, we have captured the key insights, ideas and
…

With this presentation, we have captured the key insights, ideas and
considerations that went into the AirWaves design concept.

AirWaves was developed by Azure Yang (frog Interaction designer)
and Mingmin Wang (frog Industrial designer), both working at frog
Shanghai.

AirWaves is a connected face mask that protects people from air
pollution, while collecting location-specific air pollution data at the
same time to share with a network of like-minded people.

Given the latest news on air pollution records during Chinese New
Year 2013, the concept saw some attention in the media, which is
why we feel it is worthwhile to add some context regarding our basic
intent as well as the evolution of the concept.

For more wearable technology concepts created by frog visit: http://www.frogdesign.com/mobile

Transcript

1.
AirWaves Connected MaskWearable computing concept

2.
INTRODUCTION 您好 from frog Shanghai With this presentation, we have captured the key insights, ideas and considerations that went into the AirWaves design concept. AirWaves was developed by Azure Yang (frog Interaction designer) and Mingmin Wang (frog Industrial designer), both working at frog Shanghai. AirWaves is a connected face mask that protects people from air pollution, while collecting location-speciﬁc air pollution data at the same time to share with a network of like-minded people. Given the latest news on air pollution records during Chinese New Year 2013, the concept saw some attention in the media, which is why we feel it is worthwhile to add some context regarding our basic intent as well as the evolution of the concept.

3.
Face masks are an everyday product in China and serve a broad range of needs ranging from self- protection to health- etiquette. Although often intriguing to the Western eye, protecting the face from polluted air, cold weather, sun or viruses is a common behavior in China and other Asian countries. As a response to this range of needs, we see a rather diverse and nuanced oﬀering of diﬀerent mask types.SOME SHANGHAI FROGS PORTRAYED WITH THEIR FACE MASKS

4.
While it is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, China also leads the charts in air pollution. A study from the Asian Development Bank and Beijing’s Tsinghua University suggests that China is home to seven of the world’s 10 most polluted cities. Last year, China alone consumed as much coal as the rest of the world combined. Various studies suggest that illness, premature death and loss of productivity will cost the country as much as $100 billion a year.AIR POLLUTION IS AN ALMOST PERMANENT PHENOMENON IN MANY CITIESimage source: http://www.morningwhistle.com/html/2013/PoliticsSociety_0113/216602.html

5.
During Chinese New Year 2013, the damaging air pollution was further amplified by the traditional use of fireworks, setting record highs. Cities in northwestern China such as Beijing and Qingdao suﬀered from extraordinary pollution peaks, before, during and after the Chinese New Year holiday in 2013.VIEW FROM SHANGHAI’S WORLD FINANCIAL CENTRE, SHANGHAI, PUDONGImage Source: http://www.ﬂickr.com/photos/51115641@N05/5687038815/sizes/o/in/photostream/

6.
Air quality has since seen much coverage both in the local and global media. In response, the demand for masks, cans of fresh air and air purifiers has peaked. For the ﬁrst time in history the Chinese government has addressed the un- deniable issue publicly - as a result masks known to be eﬀective to ﬁlter all relevant particle types have sold out within days.CHINESE GROUP PRACTICING TAICHI OUTSIDEimage source: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2013/01/chinas_skies_toxic_levels_of_p.html

7.
The problem has turned into an even more heated debate, and many argue whether China is paying too high a price for its economic progress. The high toxicity of China’s air is making headlines and stirring up more and more of the country’s vocal social media users. Chinese people of public interest such as directors and artists have publicly criticized the current situation as unbelievable and appalling.AI WEIWEI, ONE OF CHINA’S CRITICAL ARTISTSimage source: http://thaiphong.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/

8.
The Chinese have yetto find trustworthyand accurate datasources to guidetheir behaviors anddecisions.To understand the current level of airpollution, people refer to a collection ofapps and services. The often largediscrepancy between diﬀerent datasources leaves many insecure whichinformation to trust and respond to.

9.
During an internalcompetition focused onwearable technology, frog’sdesigners in Shanghaicreated a concept thatenhances the traditionalface mask with a particlesensor and Bluetoothconnectivity.

10.
A smartphone app collects, visualizes and shares the data with the communityThe mask uses aparticle sensor to measureair quality and share the data via Bluetooth

12.
With the basic conceptualdirection established theyexplored different designdirections aiming to strikethe right balance betweenits aesthetic and utilitarianaspects. (see the following slides)

13.
The AirWaves maskfilters and feeds thepollution data itcollects into a phoneapplication tovisualize and sharewith the network.AirWaves enables a network of like-minded people to beneﬁt from thecollective data that has been gathered.Users can view and interact with the datathrough a smartphone app. Furthermore,the data should be accessible to appdevelopers and enable them to innovatefurther.